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Abstract:

The present invention relates to a key (1) and to a mechanical module for
a key (1), comprising a body (2), the body (2) including a first body
portion (21) and a second body portion (22), the first and second body
portions (21, 22) being mechanically secured to each other via a shape
assembly, the first body portion (21) including a base member (21') and a
matching member (23), the matching member (23) achieving the shape
assembly with the second portion (22), and the matching member (23) and
the base member (21') being connected by an adhesive or welded
connection.

Claims:

1. A mechanical module for a key, comprising: a body, the body comprising
a first body part and a second body part, the first and second body parts
being fixed together mechanically using assembly by means of shape,
wherein the first body part comprises a base element and a complementary
element, the complementary element performing the assembly by means of
shape with the second part, and the complementary element and base
element being joined together by an adhesive or welded bond.

2. The mechanical module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the complementary
element of the first part and the second part butt together along a
bearing surface, the bearing surface forming a right angle with respect
to the direction in which the first part and the second part are
assembled.

3. The mechanical module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the complementary
element comes in the form of a peripheral annulus along the bearing
surface.

4. The mechanical module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module is a
key module comprising an insert mounted on the body.

5. A vehicle key comprising a mechanical module as claimed in claim 1.

6. A method of manufacturing a mechanical module, as claimed in claim 1,
the method of manufacture comprising the following steps: during a first
step, the base element is formed by molding, during a second step, the
complementary element is formed and is connected to the base element by
an adhesive or welded bond, during a third step, the first part and the
second part are joined together without the possibility of being taken
apart.

7. The method of manufacture as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
complementary element is connected to the base element by ultrasonic
welding.

8. A method of manufacturing a mechanical module for a key, comprising:
forming a base element of a first body part by molding; forming a
complementary element of the first body part and connecting the
complementary part to the base element by an adhesive or welded bond;
joining together the first part and a second part without the possibility
of being taken apart.

Description:

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical module, notably for a
vehicle key and to a method of manufacturing such a module.

[0002] Vehicle keys are generally known. They are notably intended for
example for locking or unlocking the opening leaves of the vehicle, for
example the doors, operating a tail gate, an antitheft lock and/or a
starter of the vehicle.

[0003] Moreover, vehicle keys which comprise a key body that forms a
housing for electronic means of remote control of means for locking the
opening leaves of the vehicle are known, notably from French patent
application FR 2 815 521 Al. The housing often comes in two parts each of
which forms approximately half of the housing. The housing may be
designed so that the two parts of the housing can be taken apart or so
that the two parts of the housing cannot be taken apart without
destroying or at the very least damaging the housing.

[0004] Moreover, known keys comprise an insert mounted on the key body
such that it can pivot about an axis of rotation between, on the one
hand, a position of use and, on the other hand, a storage position.

[0005] The body of the key may adopt varying shapes depending notably on
the desired esthetic look.

[0006] One disadvantage of such keys according to the prior art is the
need to provide relatively complicated tools for manufacturing those
regions of the housing that perform the assembly function.

[0007] It is a notable object of the present invention to remedy the
disadvantages of the known art, notably those mentioned hereinabove, and
another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical
module, notably for a vehicle key, and a method of manufacturing such a
module, which is inexpensive and produces a mechanical module which
remains of very high quality despite the fact that it is used over a
number of years and on a daily basis.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved using a
mechanical module, notably for a key, comprising a body, the body
comprising a first body part and a second body part, the first and second
body parts being fixed together mechanically using assembly by means of
shape, the first body part comprising a base element and a complementary
element, the complementary element performing the assembly by means of
shape with the second part, and the complementary element and base
element being joined together by an adhesive or welded bond.

[0009] Thus it is advantageously possible to produce the housing of the
mechanical module, notably for the vehicle key, in a way that is very
robust and such that it is practically impossible to open the housing,
that is to say to take the first part and the second part apart without
destroying at least one of them. Moreover, the fact that the first part
of the housing comes in two different parts means that, for the first
part of the housing, it becomes possible to use a molding tool which is
simpler and therefore to apply a less expensive molding method. In
particular, it is possible to produce the undercut function without the
use of a molding tool that comprises a slide.

[0010] One preferred improvement of the invention lies in the fact that,
on the one hand, the complementary element of the first part and, on the
other hand, the second part butt together along a bearing surface, the
bearing surface forming a right angle with respect to the direction in
which the first part and the second part are assembled.

[0011] Through such an embodiment it is advantageously possible for the
housing of the mechanical module to be a housing that cannot be taken
apart without destroying the parts of the housing.

[0012] Another preferred improvement of the invention lies in the fact
that the complementary element comes in the form of a peripheral annulus
along the bearing surface.

[0013] Thus it is advantageously possible to reduce the cost price of the
housing and thus of the mechanical module. In particular, it is
preferable according to the present invention for the complementary
element to be housed in a recess of the base element of the first part.

[0014] Another preferred improvement of the invention lies in the fact
that the module is a key module comprising an insert mounted on the key
body. For preference, the insert is able to pivot about an axis of
rotation between a position of use and a storage position, the mechanical
module preferably being of the type comprising a pivoting support bearing
the insert and collaborating with a control button.

[0015] Thus it is advantageously possible to achieve simple and effective
operation of the mechanical module of the key and to give the housing
sufficient mechanical stability to create a key.

[0016] Moreover, the present invention also relates to a key, notably a
vehicle key, the key comprising a mechanical module according to the
present invention.

[0017] Moreover, the present invention also relates to a method of
manufacturing a mechanical module, according to the present invention,
the method of manufacture comprising the following steps: [0018] during
a first step, the base element is formed by molding, [0019] during a
second step, the complementary element is formed and is connected to the
base element by an adhesive or welded bond, [0020] during a third step,
the first part and the second part are joined together without the
possibility of being taken apart.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from reading the description which follows of one particular nonlimiting
embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will be better understood from the following
description which relates to some preferred embodiments given by way of
nonlimiting examples and explained with reference to the attached
schematic drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle key according to the
present invention, the key by way of example comprising an insert and the
insert being in a storage position.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vehicle key according to the
present invention, the key by way of example comprising an insert and the
insert being in a position of use.

[0025]FIG. 3 schematically shows a view in cross section between a first
part and a second part of a housing in the event that at least one of the
parts has been manufactured using a molding tool that comprises a slide.

[0026]FIG. 4 schematically shows a view in cross section between a first
part and a second part of a housing in the event that at least one of the
parts has been manufactured using a stripper.

[0027]FIG. 5 schematically shows a view in cross section between a first
part and a second part of a housing according to the present invention,
in which the first part comprises a base element and a complementary
element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawing show, by way of example, a
key 1 comprising a mechanical module according to the present invention.
The key 1 is intended, for example, for locking or unlocking the opening
leaves of the vehicle, for operating an anti-theft lock and a starter of
this vehicle, etc. In the example depicted, the key 1 comprises a key
body 2, in the overall shape of a yoke, comprising at least a first part
21 of a housing of the key body 2 and a second part 22 of the housing of
the key body 2. The first and second parts 21, 22 are preferably
manufactured by molding. The key body 2 notably carries electronic
elements.

[0029] The electronic elements comprise conventional electronic means
intended, for example, for the remote control of the means of locking the
opening leaves of the vehicle or the means of identifying a user who is
authorized to use the vehicle.

[0030] The key may comprise an insert 3 and a control button controlling
the rotary movements of the insert 3 with respect to the key body 2 about
an imaginary axis of rotation (or of pivoting) 4 of the insert 3 with
respect to the key body 2. The insert 3, also known as the key bit, is
designed, for example, with a flat overall shape. The rotary movement
about the axis of rotation allows the insert 30 to move between a storage
position like the one illustrated notably in FIG. 1, and a position of
use as illustrated notably in FIG. 2.

[0031] FIGS. 3 and 4 are depictions of views in cross section of a housing
or of a mechanical module comprising a first part 21 and a second part 22
which are not manufactured according to the present invention. FIG. 3
illustrates a schematic view in cross section in the event that at least
the first part 21 has been manufactured using a molding tool comprising a
slide. At a bearing surface 25 where the first part 21 butts against the
second part 22, the bearing surface 25 is directed more or less
perpendicular to a direction of assembly 20. Such an embodiment of the
first part 21 and/or of the second part 22 requires the use of a slide
when molding the parts 21, 22. The use of a slide when molding the first
part 21 has to be performed by a slide inside the first part 21, which
means that a peripheral undercut (running around the entirety of the
first part 21) cannot be achieved. FIG. 4 depicts a schematic view in
cross section in the event that at least one of the parts has been
manufactured using a stripper when molding the parts 21, 22. The use of a
stripper means that the bearing surface 25 along which the first part 21
and the second part 22 bear against one another is inclined with respect
to the direction 20 in which the two parts 21, 22 are assembled. The fact
that the bearing surface 25 is inclined means that the two parts 21, 22
can be taken apart and therefore results in a weak mechanical bond.

[0032] On FIGS. 3 to 5, only FIG. 5 schematically shows a view in cross
section between a first part 21 and a second part 22 of a housing
according to the present invention. The first part comprises a base
element 21' and a complementary element 23. The complementary element 23
lies in the region of the bearing surface 25 along which the two parts
21, 22 bear against one another. With the present invention, it is
possible to achieve the following two advantages simultaneously: [0033]
the manufacture of the first part 21 in such a way as to confer upon the
bearing surface 25 an inclination that is such that the bearing surface
25 is directed perpendicular to the direction 20 of assembly, and [0034]
the manufacture of the first part 21 without using a slide during
molding.

[0035] The complementary element 23 is manufactured independently of the
base element 21' of the first part 21. Before the first part 21 and the
second part 22 are joined together, the base element 21' and the
complementary element 23 are attached to one another, for example using
an adhesive or a weld. According to the present invention, it is
preferable to use ultrasonic welding to join the base element 21' to the
complementary element.

[0036] The complementary element 23 is preferably an element in the
overall form of a ring which is positioned with respect to the base
element 21' peripherally, that is to say along the bearing surface 25
which itself runs around the first part 21 and the second part 22.